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Meredith Cohn

Meredith

Meredith Cohn has been covering the health beat and other beats in Baltimore for more than two decades, and was previously at The Baltimore Sun. She's a native of Maryland and is a graduate of the University of Maryland, College Park. She began her career at the Hagerstown Morning Herald and also spent time as a business reporter at the Virginian-Pilot and a congressional reporter at States News Service in Washington. She writes about all aspects of health and medicine, from disease outbreaks to disease cures, as well as the business of health.

The latest from Meredith Cohn

Employees of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) stand in line to enter the Mary E. Switzer Memorial Building on April 02, 2025 in Washington, DC. Layoffs began earlier this week at the Health and Human Service Administration offices after it was announced last week that the Trump Administration plans to cut 10,000 jobs at HHS.
Nearly 3,000 jobs cut in Maryland after federal health agencies scale back
Mass layoffs at federal health agencies began this week, producing anxiety about workers, public health and economy.
Apr 3, 2025
The Maryland Department of Health is located in the Herbert R. O'Conor State Office Building at 201 W. Preston Street in Baltimore.
Vaccines, transgender health studies at risk as $300 million in federal cuts expected in Maryland
Another round of federal health grant cancelations threatens kids' vaccines and other medical research.
Mar 31, 2025
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 27: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services building is seen on March 27, 2025 in Washington, DC. The Department of Health and Human Services announced it is cutting 10,000 jobs and closing offices aimed at cutting $1.8 billion.
Maryland likely to bear brunt of 10,000 job cuts at federal health agency
The federal Department of Health and Human Services will lay off 10,000 people, on top of 10,000 jobs already lost, with Maryland likely to absorb the brunt of the cuts.
Mar 27, 2025
The Johns Hopkins University and the University of Maryland, Baltimore, both face new cuts to NIH grant funding
HHS cuts millions in grants to Hopkins and University of Maryland, Baltimore
Johns Hopkins University and the University of Maryland, Baltimore, both had NIH research grants terminated this month and more cuts are possible.
Mar 25, 2025
The Johns Hopkins Hospital in East Baltimore
Maryland hospital budgets appear to dodge federal cost cutting — for now
Maryland’s hospitals have, for now, dodged federal cost cutters, who axed a half dozen special programs around the country for not saving enough money.
Mar 14, 2025
The Jhpiego headquarters in the Fells Point neighborhood of Baltimore. The organization began cutting jobs Thursday.
Johns Hopkins aid groups to lay off more than 2,000 amid Trump cuts
Jhpiego and the Center for Communication Programs, global aid groups affiliated with Johns Hopkins University, have begun layoffs and a reorganization as millions in federal funding from USAID is cut off.
Mar 13, 2025
More than 100 referrals have been sent to investigators inside the Maryland Department of Health, pictured here, and to a Medicaid fraud unit in the office of Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown.
A woman stole from Maryland’s system to treat poor patients — again. This time, it was millions.
A Maryland woman pleaded guilty to defrauding Medicaid of millions for mental health services she never provided.
Mar 11, 2025
LUBBOCK, TEXAS - MARCH 01: Raynard Covarrubio fills a syringe with the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine at a vaccine clinic put on by Lubbock Public Health Department on March 1, 2025 in Lubbock, Texas. Cases of Measles are on the rise in West Texas as over 150 confirmed case have been seen with one confirmed death.
What you need to know to stay safe after measles case in Maryland
There was a measles case found in Maryland. Here is what we know about who was exposed and what to do.
Mar 10, 2025
The Jhpiego headquarters in the Fells Point neighborhood of Baltimore, Md.
Johns Hopkins University president forecasts possible cuts after Trump directives
In a letter to campus, Johns Hopkins University President Ron Daniels appears to brace the campus for cuts.
Mar 4, 2025
PROVO, UT - APRIL 29: A nurse gives Michaella a measles, mumps and rubella virus vaccine made by Merck at the Utah County Health Department on April 29, 2019 in Provo, Utah. These were Michaella's first ever vaccinations. She asked that only her first name be used.
A child died from measles in Texas. How protected is Maryland from an outbreak?
With measles cases rising in Texas and the death of a child, public health officials are unsettled. But Maryland appears to have a good vaccination level for protection.
Feb 28, 2025
Emily Ariail preps DNA for protein purification in the lab at the Translational Tissue Engineering Center, adjacent to Johns Hopkins Hospital, on February 21, 2025.
Johns Hopkins bet big on federal funding. The losses could now be $200 million a year.
The Trump cost-cutting measures for health research would prompt layoffs, the Johns Hopkins University says.
Feb 28, 2025
Melissa McCarthy at The Reprieve, a residential treatment center in Carroll County that she and her business partner have been unable to open due to delays with the Maryland Department of Health.
Ready but unable to open: New treatment providers face hurdles in Maryland
The operators of The Reprieve are among many addiction and mental health treatment providers — both prospective and established — who have said delays in the state’s bureaucratic machinery are hindering their ability to help Marylanders in the midst of an overdose crisis.
Feb 27, 2025
Hospitals in Maryland are participating in a statewide program to keep costs in check, but some officials say the system needs updating to maintain access for patients.
Maryland hospitals agreed to cost controls. Now they say they need more money.
Hospitals say the system is on the verge of crisis, with access to care increasingly at stake.
Feb 21, 2025
FILE - A patient is given a flu vaccine at the L.A. Care and Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plans' Community Resource Center where they were offering members and the public free flu and COVID-19 vaccines Friday, Oct. 28, 2022, in Lynwood, Calif. As Americans head into the late 2022 holiday season, a rapidly intensifying flu season is straining hospitals already overburdened with patients sick from other respiratory infections.
Flu cases are the highest in years, and low vaccination rates may be to blame
Maryland, along with the rest of the nation, is experiencing the worst flu season in years, leading to a high number of hospitalizations.
Feb 13, 2025
A lawsuit, joined by the Johns Hopkins University, filed late Monday stemmed from NIH’s announcement last week that it would cap the availability of indirect funds.
Johns Hopkins joins lawsuit against NIH cuts to universities
Johns Hopkins University joined several universities in a lawsuit on Monday evening suing the federal government over NIH funding.
Feb 11, 2025
Johns Hopkins University stands to lose million in funding from NIH for the indirect costs of research under a new directive from the Trump administration.
Maryland sues to stop Trump cuts that could cost universities millions
U.S. attorneys general are suing to stop the Trump administration from cutting funding for costs related to research, a move putting hundreds of millions in funding in Maryland at stake.
Updated Feb 10, 2025
ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA - JANUARY 31: An airplane takes off from Reagan National Airport as Roberto Marquez from Dallas, Texas, puts up crosses as part of a memorial for the victims of the midair collision between an American Airlines plane and a military helicopter earlier this week in the Potomac River, January 31, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia. Flights have resumed in and out of Reagan National Airport after an American Airlines flight from Wichita, Kansas collided midair with a military Black Hawk helicopter while on approach to the airport. According to reports, there were no survivors among the 67 people onboard both aircraft.
Ice skaters, company executives, hunters. These are the Marylanders we know died in the DC plane crash.
The number of Marylanders confirmed dead in an aviation crash near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport that shook the nation this week continues to rise.
Updated Feb 8, 2025
WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 07: A worker removes the U.S. Agency for International Development sign on their headquarters on February 07, 2025 in Washington, DC. President Donald Trump and Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) abruptly shutdown the U.S. aid agency earlier this week leaving thousands unemployed and putting U.S. foreign diplomacy and aid programs in limbo.
Trump wants to cut humanitarian aid. These Maryland groups could suffer.
More than 100 groups and contractors will be affected by cuts at USAID, a review by the Baltimore Banner shows.
Feb 8, 2025
The Catholic Relief Services headquarters in Baltimore on Thursday, February 6, 2025.
Another Baltimore-based global aid group faces cuts: Catholic Relief Services
Catholic Relief Services may be the next Baltimore-based humanitarian aid group to face major cuts as the Trump administration’s DOGE slashes USAID funding.
Feb 6, 2025
Jhpiego, headquartered in Fells Point, is in turmoil over the Trump administration’s move to gut a funding source: USAID.
Elon Musk’s gutting of USAID rips through Baltimore humanitarian groups
Johns Hopkins University-affiliated Jhpiego and Center for Communication Programs have received stop-work orders, affecting at least 4,400 employees worldwide.
Feb 5, 2025
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